Calls for more black history teaching in Anglesey’s schools in light of Black Lives Matter campaign

Living in a rural and largely white area doesn’t mean that black history shouldn’t be a mainstay of our local schools.

That’s the view of young activists on Anglesey who have thrown their voice behind calls to establish the compulsory teaching of the history of BAME communities and  colonial exploitation.

A petition calling for its inclusion in the Welsh curriculum has already been signed by over 30,000 people – smashing the 5,000 target – which will see the Senedd’s petitions committee debate the issue in due course.

But a localised campaign has also been set up by young political activists on Anglesey,  urging a change of attitude in North Wales in response to the recent Black Lives Matter campaign which has made headlines on both sides of the Atlantic.

Despite the last census showing that only 1.8% of the island’s residents describe themselves as non-white – 1,231 people –  the Welsh Government and Anglesey Council have been urged to implement their history into the classroom.

In an open letter to the local authority and individual schools, youth activists from the local Labour branch urged schools to be “visionary” in implementing colonialism and black history into their day to day teaching.

“Due to Anglesey being a rural area and the subsequent lack of ethnic diversity in its demographics, we feel that colonialism and black history is even less recognised here than in other parts of the United Kingdom,” it noted.

“In light of the recent change in flexibility of the new curriculum from the Welsh Government, we believe it is your duty to use the power of education to teach this part of history that has been neglected for far too long.

“We accept that individual schools are not at fault for the lack of this topic in previous years, but the rise of the Black Lives Matter movement and the large protest in Bangor shows the demand for change in north Wales.

In response, an Anglesey Council spokesman said that they were considered the matter a “very important one” with discussions already underway on an internal basis.

A Welsh Government spokesperson added: “It is important for learning to be inclusive and to draw on the experiences, perspectives and cultural heritage of contemporary Wales.

“In the new curriculum, learners will explore the local, national and global contexts to all aspects of learning, and to make connections and develop understanding within a diverse society.

“We will work with Estyn to ensure that their review of Welsh history takes full account of Welsh, and wider, BAME history, identity and culture – and we will establish a working group to oversee the development of learning resources, and identify gaps in current resources or training.

“History is not only a matter for one lesson and one subject.”

By Gareth Williams – Local Democracy Reporter